Electric switch



W. SCHMID ELECTRIC swrrcfi Nov. 3, 1925. 1,559,788

Filed March 25. 1924 2 Sheets-Shoot l Nov. 3,192 1,559,788 v W; SCHMID ELECTRIC SWITCH 1 Filed March 25.1924 2 SheetbShnQ 2 Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM SCHMID, OF COLDWATER, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed March 25, 1924. Serial No. 701,872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ScHM1o,citizen of the United States, residing at Coldwater, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to those electric switches that are adapted to control the ignition and lighting circuit of automobiles, though the invention is not to be thus restricted.

In switches of this class contacts have been integrally formed with springs made of sheet metal and assembled with suitable actuators. The springs have hitherto been relied upon to electrically connect thecontacts thereon with the result that the current conveyed between the contacts by the springs would cause the springs to deteriorate.

In practicing my invention I do not rely upon the springs to electrically connect the contacts but provide connections between the contacts through which current is conveyed independently of the springs. In one form of the invention the springs are metallically continuous between and are electrically connected with the contacts pertaining thereto but because of the added connections between the contacts the amount of current passing through the springs is reduced to a oint where it will not have a harmful effect t ereon. The invention, however, is not to be limited to a structure in which a divided portion of the current may pass between the contacts by way of the spring or springs supporting them. In automobile switches for employing ignition and lighting circuits other sets of contacts are also provided upon metallic rings which electrically connect the contacts pertaining thereto. These rings have hitherto been also in the form of springs to exert pressure upon the contacts carried upon the rings with the result that the spring rings are caused to deteriorate by current passing therethrough. I overcome this objection by employing an actuator for turning the ring and comprising a support and at least two oppositely directed spring arms assembled with this support and having their remote ends engageable with abut,- ments that are provided upon the ring. In the preferred embodiment of this feature of the invention the ring is formed with two pairs of radially disposed depressions the depressions of each palr having tongues projecting over the depressions in opposite directions.

The invention will be fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front View illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof; Fig. 2 is a rear view; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the switch with the contact carrier at the rear of the switch removed; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the switch with the contact carrier and the contacting elements complemental to the contacts upon this carrier all removed; Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the current conducting ring; Fig. G-is a perspective view illustrating the actuator for the ring shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a side View of the switch with the casing-and its mounting plate shown in section andthe balance of the switch in elevation; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of contacts which are mounted upon a spring but which are electrically'connected independently of the spring.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

The casing has an end wall 1 and a side wall 2, the wall 1 being essentially flat and the wall 2 being preferably cylindrical. it

mounting plate 3 is secured to the casing in any preferred way as by means of rivets 4 passing through the plate and the end wall of the casing. A large central circular opening 5, co-axial with the casing, is. formed in the mounting plate. One or more arcuate slots 6, also concentric with the cusing, are formed through the end wall thereof and are aligned with the openings 5, these slots beingformed in depressed portions 7 of the end wall. The handle 8 has a circular portion 9 passing into the opening 5 and is formed with projections 10 that pass through the arcuate slots 6 and which are suitably assembled with a contact actuator 11. As illustrated, the projections 10' are bifuracted at their inner ends to form tongues 12 which underlie the actuator 11,

this actuator being confined between these afford a limited range of turning movement lit) for the handle. The contact actuator 11 is in the form of a ring which surrounds the handle projections 10, there being notches 13 upon the interior of the ring that receives said projections whereby turning movement of the ring accompanies the turning movement of the handle.

There is a sleeve 14 that is co-axial with the handle andwith the casing and other rotating parts of the switch. The sleeve 14 houses the barrel 15 of any suitable lock which is accessible from the front of the handle. Suitable slots in the sleeve, not shown, receive the tumblers 16 when the inner switch 22 is to be locked and from which the tumblers are to be withdrawn when the switch 22 is to lee-adjusted, the handle operated switch being preferably always adjustable. The rotating part of the lock carries a projection 17 which extends into the switch casing through a central 3 opening in the end wall of the casing. A

contact actuator 18 is formed with an'opening that receives the projection 17 th s opening being of such shape as to provide material relative turning movement between this actuator and the lock projection 17 while permittin movement of the actuator along this projection. While the contact actuator 11 is maintained in its zone of rotation by being confined between the handle tongues 12 and the end wall of the casing the actuator 18 is maintained in its zone of rotation, which happens to be also the zone of rotation of the ring 11, by the spring contacts which are actuated thereby as will more fully appear.

A contact carrier 19 carries bayonet pins 20 that are receivable in bayonet slots, not shown, that are formed in the cylindrical wall of the casing. This conta ct carrier carries two contacts 21 that are to be thrown into and out of connection as will now appear. The actuator 18 also constitutes a support for two spring arms 22 which are preferably integrally formed out of one piece of sheet metal but to which integral formation the invention is not to be limited. The adjacent ends of these arms are secured, by means of rivets 23, tothe support or actuator 18 and the balance of the arms are spaced apart from the element 18 to permit the arms to flex. Contacts '24,

25 are provided upon the remoter ends of the arms and are desirably formed by dishing these ends of the arms toward the contact carrier 19 so as to be receivable within cavities formed upon the inner ends of the contacts 21 that are desirably in the form of threaded rods, which receive binding screws 26. The contact 25 is co-axial with the support or carrier 18 and the contact 21 that'is complemental thereto, all ofthese parts being also co-axial with the switch casing whereby the contact 25 is constantly in engagement with the contact comple- I avoid this result by providing an elec-' trical connection 27 between the contacts 24 and 25 whereby current may be conveyed between these two contacts independently of the spring arms. The connection 27 is desirably formed in one integral structure:

and out of the same piece of sheet metal with the arms 22 and the contacts24 and 25. Springs 22 furnish sufficient spring pressure properly to engage the contacts 24 and 25 with their complements and also to maintain the support of carrier 18 against the*e,nd wall of the casing to define the zone of turning movement of this element 18. v

The contact carrier 19 also carries other contacts 29' with which the contacts 30, 31, 32 and 33 may be engaged or from which these latter contacts may be separated by the actuation of the contact actuator 11. The contacts 30, 31, 32 and 33 are desirably bulging portions of a metallic ring 34 whereby such ring serves to electrically connect such contacts; Hitherto this ring was of springformation to bring its contacts into proper engagement with the contacts complemental to the contacts upon the ring. The current passing through the spring rin r would cause the ring to deteriorate. I therefore provide a supplemental spring means which does not carry current but which serves to exert the desired pressure upon the contacts that are upon the ring. This spring means comprises the actuator or support 11 and two pairs of oppositely extended spring arms 35, 36 and 37, 38. The arms of each pair are desirably integrally formed of t e same piece of strip metal and are anchored at their adjacent ends by means of rivets 39 passing through these ends and the contact actuator or support 11 as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The ring is formed with two pairs of abutments 40, 41 and 42, 43. The remote ends of the pairs of arms engage the abutments of each pair respectively, one arm serving to turn the ring in one direction when the actuator 11 is turned in that direction and the other arm serving to turn the ring in the reverse direction when the direction of movement of the actuator 11 is reversed. The abutments 40, etc, are desirably transverse end walls of pairs of radially disposed depressions 44,45 and .46, 47.

The ring carries oppositely directed tongues 48 and 49 which respectively overlie the depressions 40 and 41 and other oppositely directed tongues 50- and 51 which respectively overlie the depressions 46 and 47. The transverse edges of the remote ends of each pair of arms are spaced closer together than are the abutment affording transverse edges of the depressions which face them whereby the ring may be afforded a limited range of floating movement. Features not herein claimed form the sub ject matter of my original application; Serial No. 615,808, filed January 20, 1923.

lVhile l have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having ..thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. An electric switch including two switch arms formed of sheet metal and having adjacent ends; a positioner for said-spring arms and engaging the adjacent ends of said arms, the other ends of the spring arms being shaped to form contacts projecting therefrom; an electrical connection between said contacts and respectively integrally formed with the arms carrying them; a contact carrier, the spring arms and contact carrier being'relatively movable; and two contacts upon said carrier and respectively complemental to the aforesaid contacts:

2. An electric switch including two switch spring arms formed of sheet metal and having adjacent ends; a positioner for said spring arms and engaging the adjacent ends of said arms, the other ends of the spring arms being shaped to form contacts projecting therefrom; an electrical connection between said contacts; a contact carrier, the spring arms and contact carrier being relatively movable; and two contacts upon arms being shaped to form contacts said carrier and respectively complemental to the aforesaid contacts.

3. Anelectric switch including two switch spring arms formed of sheet metal'and having adjacent ends and carrying contacts at their other ends; a positioner for said spring arms and engaging the adjacent ends of said arms; an electrical connection between said contacts and respectively integrally formed with the arms carrying them; a contact carrier, the spring. arms and contact carrier being relatively movable; and two contacts upon said carrier and respectively complemental to the aforesaid contacts.

4. An electric switch including two switch spring arms formed of sheet metal and having adjacent ends and carrying contacts at their other ends; a positioner for said 5 ring arms and engaging the adjacent ends 0 said arms; an electrical connection between said contacts; a contact carrier, the spring arms and contact carrier being relatively movable; and two contacts upon said carrier and respectively complemental to the aforesaid contacts.

5. An electric switch including two switch spring arms formed of sheet metal and having'adjacent ends; a positioner for said spring arms and engaging the adjacent ends of sald arms, the other ends of the spring projecting therefrom; an electrical connection between said contaots and respectively integrally formed with the arms carrying them; a contact carrier, the spring arms and contact carrier being relatively rotatable; and two contacts upon said carriers and respectively complemental to the aforesaid contacts, two of the complemental contacts being upon the axis of relative movement of the contact carrier and spring arms.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of November A. D.,

WILLIAM SOHMID. 

